The Irish standard., 1887-09-10

duty of repelling ISLANDERS upon him
fell often to O'Gorman Mahon, who
participated in at least thirteen duels.
On one occasion, during the repeal agi-
tation. O'Connell, in meeting an attack
upon himself, intended to provoke him
to challenge his assailant, declared
firmly that be would neither give nor
accept challenge. O'Gorman Mahon
stood up the moment the cid chief sat
down, and said, with tranquil demean-
or, "Afr. Chairman, it may be useful to
state that have made no such resolu-
ton. God forbid.'' In 1878, when the
conference was held at Dublin to form
the Home Rule League of which Isaac
Butt was the head, until, a few years
later, Parnell supplanted him in the
confidence Of the country, O'Gorman
Mahon made his periodic appearance.
For nearly a quarter Of a century the
men who were the prime organizers of
the new enterprise had neither seen nor
heard of him. Time had been doing it's
work upon his physique. His jet black
locks were turned to silver white, and
white was the long flowing beard which
rolled adown his breast like Druid's.
His tall, splendid figure confessed no
exterior decay, while bis sharp Roman
features, his white beard and snowy
hair falling in uncut waves upon his
shoulders, gave him, when his llon-llke
eyes were lighted with excitement, a
majestic aspect. He was colonel in
her majesty's service. There was q
furJive feeling that there might be
trials fer treason arising out OF the con-
ference, and great curiosity was mani
tested about what he would say. When
rising he reached his full stature and
faced the conference. Every voice was
sti]led. He spoke modestly, but with
precision. u am ready" he said, ito
lay down my colonel's commission and
go forth a recruiting sergeant in the
cause Of the people," When the wild
cheering. had ceased he added with
smiling pathos; II am but a shattered
remnant of those who in emancipation
days led in the struggle; but, although
the SHOWS of seventy winters Whiten
the hair upon my head, they have not
chilled my breast; which still beats and
will beat on till death closes my eyesin
the service of my country" He de-
clined to be a candidate for seat, and
was quite content to continue in his old
role or meeting foes in any dusky spot
whenever they preferred that arbitra-
ment Of political disputes. During the
Home Rule conference, he dined in
state with number Of distinguished
men, including several ecclesiastics of
high station. The duel came up in an
incidental topic; and one of the latter,
to soften, as he designed, the implied
aspersion upon the gallant old man,
said, depreciatingly, that he did not
think any blame should attach to him,
who merely accepted a challenge, since
refusal meant dishonor and social os-
5racisrn, going on to excuse what he be.
lieved to be the only fault OF which
O'Gorman Mahon had been guilty.
The gallant gentleman could not suffer
such injustice in silence, and broke out
with: "Gentlemen, I am bound to de-
clare, on my honor as a gentleman,
that, however unfortunate I may haye
been in participating in hostile meet
ings, I never received a challenge in my
life I always sent it," Notwith-
standing his fidelity to the principle of
individual force, he rather illogically
opposed the idea Of force ds means of
winning back the legislative independ-
ence of his country. In bis Home
Rule conference address, he distinctly
avowed himself an advocate OF moral
suasion and that alone. He doubtless
knew too well the futility and madness
of Ireland striving unaided against the
military strength of Great Britain. He
was one of the first to feel and express
confidence in Parneli, whom he finally
proposed as the leader OF the Home
Rule party, and then he accepted once
more the seat for Clare, to which he
had been originally elected just fifty
years previously. He was a striking
figure in the Parnell phalanx in its
young and obstreperous days. He
rarely spoke, but when he did, he COM
PEELED attention, not only by the nobil-
ity of his personal appearance, but by
the compactness and brevitv Of what
he said. Everybody remembers the
famous scene in the House when Glad
stone. exasperated by the. irritating
tactics Of obstruction, and resolved to
rule the House without the Irish mem-
bers if they would not let him rule them
in it, determined upon their suspension
as a body. They refused to 80 out.
denying the legality Of the procee edings,
unless compelled by force. Parnell was
the first to give this refusal. He waited
quietly until the sergeant alarms
touched him on the should Ter. Then,
descending from his place, he faced the
continued On Fifth Page.